Retailers slash iPhone 5 price prepping for next iPhone

By Mike Flacy August 31, 2013

apple iphone 5 4G — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Likely also taking advantage of increased foot traffic in retail stores this weekend, both Best Buy and Walmart have significantly discounted the starting price of the iPhone 5 in order to move inventory out the door before the next iPhone launches later this month. Specifically, Best Buy is offering a minimum of 50 percent discount on the $199 16GB or $299 32GB model if the customer trades in an iPhone 4 or 4S that works properly and is in reasonably good condition free of water damage or screen cracks.

That means customers will spend $99 on the 16GB model or $149 on the 32GB model if their iPhone 4 or 4S model simply passes muster. Similar to Apple’s new iPhone trade-in program, customers at Best Buy can earn even more if their smartphone is in excellent condition and comes with extras like the charging cable and original packaging.

Best Buy Mobile iPhone 5 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Consumers interested in taking advantage of this offer can check out the Best Buy trade-in pricing tool on the main site. Credit for the iPhone 4 or 4S has to be applied to a new iPhone 5 purchase that’s under a two-year contract with AT&T, Sprint or Verizon.

Alternatively, Walmart has cut the under-contract price of the 16GB iPhone 5 to $98 and doesn’t even require a trade-in. Hypothetically, an iPhone 4 or 4S owner could sell their device on an auction site like eBay or to an electronics reseller in order to help cover the cost of a new iPhone 5 at Walmart. Prior to this weekend, the price of the 16GB iPhone 5 at Walmart was approximately $130.

If you want to spend even less and don’t mind older technology, Walmart’s price on the iPhone 4S under two-year contract is just $39. In addition, Android fans can pick up a discounted Samsung Galaxy S4 at Walmart this weekend for just $138 with a two-year contract at AT&T or Verizon. It’s likely that more retailers will follow suit with this new aggressive price on the iPhone 5 prior to the Apple press conference on September 10, 2013.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Contributing Editor

By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…

Mobile

Best iPhone 14 deals: Unlocked and refurbished

The Apple iPhone 14 Pro's camera module

While the iPhone 15 may be Apple’s most recent iPhone release, that only makes the iPhone 14 a better way to save. The iPhone 14 isn’t far removed from being among the best phones on the market, and it’s still a powerhouse option for most smartphone users. There are a lot of ways to save on an iPhone 14, with shopping refurbished models being one of the best. You'll get a good warranty and a large return window shopping refurbished with most major retailers, which makes them some of the best iPhone 14 deals you'll find. With so many to take advantage of right now, we thought we’d do the heavy lifting and put all of the best iPhone 14 deals together in one place. Reading onward you’ll find some impressive savings on all models of the Apple iPhone 14.
Apple iPhone 14 -- from $479, was $699

With the Apple iPhone 14 you’re getting what is still one of the most popular smartphones on the market. This is the iPhone 14 model that’s meant for everyone. It holds back a few features you can only get on the Pro model, but it still has an impressive 6.1-inch display, an impressive camera, and dozens of ways to personalize your iOS experience with widgets and fonts. The phone can reach up to 26 hours of battery life on a single charge, and it’s powered by Apple’s A15 Bionic chip. Face ID, emergency SOS via satellite, and super fast 5G cellular connectivity round out the top features of the Apple iPhone 14.
Buy Refurbished at Amazon — from $479

Mobile

How to turn off call forwarding on iPhone and Android

A person holding the Apple iPhone 15 Plus, showing the camera.

If you’re mysteriously missing calls on your iPhone or Android smartphone, it may be because call forwarding is activated on your line. In that case, all your incoming calls could be going somewhere else.

Call forwarding shouldn’t typically be active unless you’ve specifically turned it on, but another person or app may have done so without your knowledge. And since call forwarding is a carrier feature, it could still be enabled on a line you inherited from someone else, even if you’ve swapped their SIM card into your phone or transferred it to a new account.

Mobile

iPhone 16: news, rumored price, release date, and more

A person holding the Apple iPhone 15 Plus and Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends

We're more than six months removed from the launch of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro, so you know what that means: iPhone 16 rumors are in full force. Talk is heating up about everything from design leaks and rumored specs to camera changes and more.